Rex Airlines' viability in the Lismore market has been well publicised for many years.

Rex has been the recipient of Federal Government funding to keep non-profitable routes like Sydney-Grafton-Lismore running to service residents of Lismore. Wednesday, June 29 is the final flight from Lismore to Sydney. If you wish to fly to Sydney from June 30, it will be from Ballina airport but again will not be on a Rex flight as the Ballina airport is also being removed from Rex's destinations from July 2.

Lismore and Ballina along with Grafton, Kangaroo Island and Bathurst will see five regional centres being removed from the Rex flight schedule.

June 30 coincides with the end of the Federal Government’s Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) program, except for the Ballina route, which will terminate on July 2.

Two other NSW regional routes are pending further review.

Rex’s Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said, “Rex has faithfully serviced most of these routes for 20 years and some of them for more than 30 years by Rex’s predecessor Kendell and Hazelton. So it is with a really heavy heart that we have to announce the cessation of services in an effort to improve Rex’s financial performance. Qantas’ well-publicised predatory actions on Rex’s regional routes have meant that Rex no longer has the ability to cross-subsidise these marginal routes”.

“It is unfortunate that these regional communities are the collateral damage of Qantas’ bullying and heartless behaviour. This behaviour is all the more unconscionable after receiving over $2 billion in Federal bailouts over the past 2 years.”

Rex’s remaining regional network will be closely monitored and further adjustments could be announced in the coming months.

Rex's decision will impact Lismore City Council, the owners of the Lismore Airport.

Lismore City Council General Manager John Walker told the Lismore App, "We ask Regional Express to reconsider its decision to cease flights between Lismore and Sydney and request our federal and state members of parliament assist us in lobbying REX to re-instate the flights."

"Lismore and REX have had a strong and mutually beneficial relationship over the last 20-odd years that the airline has serviced our community.

"As a measure of goodwill, Lismore City Council waived airport fees during COVID to support the airline through this challenging time for the entire aviation industry.

"The re-instatement of flight is particularly important now as REX’s new routes linking capital cities provides an opportunity for the Lismore community to link their flight to Sydney with connecting flights to other cities.

"This will benefit both REX and our community.

"Although passenger numbers travelling to and from Lismore have decreased over time due to the expansion of Ballina Airport, numbers in recent years have stabilised and the new route through Grafton has good patronage.

"Most Lismore passengers come from the Lismore region and areas to the west of Lismore, and prefer to fly out of Lismore rather than Ballina.

"The REX flights are also important to get goods in and out of Lismore with a significant volume of freight being transported in the body of the aircraft.

"We hope that this situation can be resolved soon."

Is this the end of the chapter with Rex, once again looking for Federal Government assistance to continue or is this really the end of the book.